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An easy to understand summary on why ROC is commonly referred to as "Taiwan" (internationally & domestically) 
Instead of a conscious political decision, the name is more of a natural flow that happened gradually. (1) https://twitter.com/catielila/status/1303840106432917506
Instead of a conscious political decision, the name is more of a natural flow that happened gradually. (1) https://twitter.com/catielila/status/1303840106432917506
Of course there are problems with this unconscious decision that ppl are getting used to. For one, the name "Taiwan" is often complained to be 本島中心主義 (mainland centralism) by those who are not living on the mainland (本島) Taiwan.
(2)
(2)
To those from Penghu islands or Green & Orchid Islands, the problem is more simple: they often identify as "Taiwanese" but the name "Taiwan" also = the island they travel by boat or plane to. It's not the place they live in.
(3)
(3)
To those from Kinmen & Matsu however, it's a lot more complicated than that. Even after 精省/凍省 in 1998, when ROC stopped running Taiwan as a province, Kinmen & Matsu were left out... According to ROC laws, they aren't "part of Taiwan". They are of Fujian province. (4)
Sometimes the news will quote someone from Kinmen/Matsu saying "I'm not Taiwanese" to stir conflict. And it's often successful. However, when you look at the ID card of someone from these two areas, no where is the word "Taiwan" present.
(5)
(5)
I've heard someone from Kinmen speak of this dilemma. They are playing a crucial rule as the frontline of ROC. They do not wish to become part of PRC. Yet, they are not Taiwan. They wanted to say they are Taiwanese, just like everyone else, but their ID said otherwise. (6)
This is why in the passport design competition, many voted for A44_The Diverse Land, the only design that included Kinmen & Matsu. (7)
https://taiwanpassport.tw/product?serial_number=A44
https://taiwanpassport.tw/product?serial_number=A44
There's always this ongoing discussion on what we want to be when we got rid of ROC. "Republic of Taiwan" is a common answer.
For those who wish to (finally) decide our own name & wish to use the name "Taiwan", it's our mission to make this name inclusive. (8)
For those who wish to (finally) decide our own name & wish to use the name "Taiwan", it's our mission to make this name inclusive. (8)
